Warning light



Oct. 12, 1965 E. L. KILBOURN 3,210,966

WARNING LIGHT Filed Oct. 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Shet l INVENTOR.

ZY/GZ/VE A. Mzaoumv WWzMA/ ZM Oct. 12, 1965 E. L. KILBOURN 3,210,966

WARNING LIGHT Filed Oct. 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LV'A/i L.K/LBOURN Oct. 12, 1965 E. L. KILBOURN WARNING LIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Oct. 7, 1963 United States Patent "ice 3,210,966 WARNING LIGHTEugene L. Kilbourn, Marengo Township, Calhoun County, Mich., assiguor toS. H. Leggitt Company, Marshall, Mich., a corporation of Michigan FiledOct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,392 9 Claims. (Cl. 671ll1) The presentinvention generally relates to a lighting device and more specificallyrelates to a flashing, combustible gas, warning light.

Previous warning lights powered by combustible gas and providing asource of flashing light have presented a number of operational andeconomic problems. For example, such lights have often used fuelsincluding heavy ends which tend to become deposited upon the workingparts of valves and similar devices within the structure of the warninglight whereby operation thereof is substantially degraded or, in somecases, completely stopped. One occurrence of this problem has been onsome warning lights fueled by propane gas derived from pressurizedliquid propane.

Some previous warning lights of the type described have included acontinuously burning pilot light for igniting spaced pulses ofcombustible gas, which ignition causes the flashing characteristic ofthe warning light. In many cases, it has been generally found moreeconomical in such lights, or otherwise preferable, to provide a singleburner which produces both the pilot light and the larger flashinglight. However, in such cases, water vapor or other impurities in thecombustible gas, introduced thereinto before the gas reaches the burner,may condense before reaching the burner and may reach same in a liquidcondition thereby tending to extinguish the pilot flame.

Another problem has involved the production of an interrupted flow ofgas for producing the desired flashing action. It is usually desiredthat the main gas supply be turned on and off in an abrupt mannerwhereby the light produced appears to move between its on and off statesvirtually instantaneously for maximum attention-getting effectiveness.It is also desirable from the standpoint of simplicity and economy, asstated above, to utilize the same burner for the pilot and main flames.Hence, the problem often arises of the virtually instantaneously turningon of the main supply of gas causing a surge in the gas-air mixturesurrounding the burner which tends to blow out the pilot flame. Theproblem may be cured to some extent by increasing the size of the pilotflame but this may not be feasible in cases Where the warning light mustoperate unattended for extended periods on a limited amount of fuel. Itis further undesirable because such an increase in the size of the pilotflame effectively raises the light level of the warning light during itsidle condition whereby to reduce the contrast in light output betweenthe on and off conditions.

The device of the present invention was developed to overcome these andother problems associated with previous warning lights. Morespecifically, the device of the invention was developed for use with aliquid propane tank fuel supply and for use as a land-based warninglight. However, it will be recognized that the device of the inventionmay be used in other environments and may utiliZe different forms offuel. Hence, the embodiment of the invention hereinbelow described will,for purposes of illustration only, be of the land-based type and willutilize tanked liquid propane as a combustible gas source.

Accordingly, the objects of this invention include:

(1) To rovide a flashing warning light fueled by a combustible gas.

(2) To provide a device, as aforesaid, particularly adapted for use withpropane gas derived from a storage tank of liquid propane.

3,210,966 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 (3) To provide a warning light, asaforesaid, including a continuously burning pilot flame and wherein thepilot and main flames issue from the same burner.

(4) To provide a cracking tube to fraction out sludge elements or heavyends in the fuel supply whereby clogging of the valves in the system issharply reduced or eliminated.

(5) To provide a device, as aforesaid, including a shock chamber forcontrolling the character of the pressure change at the burner duringthe turning on or shutting off of the main gas supply.

(6) To provide a device, as aforesaid, including an evaporation tube toprevent collection of moisture in the burner which could otherwiseextinguish the pilot light.

(7) To provide a device, as aforesaid, incorporating a pai1l'( ofchambers which is mountable on existing propane tan s.

(8) To provide a device, as aforesaid, including a minimum number ofparts consisting mainly of either stock or easily fabricated parts whichare generally inexpensive and which are capable of quick and easyassembly by relatively inexperienced personnel to produce a unit atrelatively low cost.

(9) To provide a device, as aforesaid, which is capable of operationunder a wide diversity of weather conditions, is easy to put intooperation, needs little or no maintenance over long periods of time, iseasily repaired with simple tools and by persons of little experience,is sturdily built, and is economical of fuel.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent topersons acquainted with this type of equipment upon reading thefollowing description and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an oblique view of the warning light embodying theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the sequence of connectionsof the gas-carrying parts of the device of FIGURE 1, the tank beingshown for convenience at a small scale and the remaining parts at alarge scale.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded, oblique view of the gascarrying parts and linesand the hood structure of the device of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a partially broken three-quarter size elevational view ofthe hood of FIGURE 1.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forpurposes of convenience in reference only and is not believed orintended to be limiting. For example, the words upwardly, downwardly,rightwardly, leftwardly, frontwardly and rearwardly, derivatives thereofand words of similar import will apply to the warning light of FIGURE 1or to parts thereof bemg described. The terms inwardly and outwardlywill refer to the geometric center of the warning light or to partsthereof being described.

General description In general, the objects and purposes of thisinvention are met in providing a flashing warning light lighted by theintermittent combustion of a combustible gas, such as that derived fromliquid propane. Closure means, mounted on and supported by a fuel tank,is divided into a pair of chambers by a baffle plate. The upper of saidchambers houses the pilot and main fla'mes, pulse-producing means,cracking and evaporation tubes and means controlling the characteristicsof the main and pilot flames. Said upper chamber has at least partiallytransparent walls allowing said flames to be visible from outsidethereof. The lower chamber houses suitable pressure-regulating devicesand the burner. The aforementioned gas-handling devices are mounted onthe baflle plate.

The cracking tube comprises a piece of gas-conveying tubing lying withinthe upper or flame chamber and exposed to the heat of said flame tocrack or cause changing of sludge components of the combustible gas intolighter ends subject to combustion and incapable of interfering with theoperation of the valves of the system. The evaporation tube comprises apiece of gas-conveying tubing lying within the upper or flame chamberand subject to heating by the flame to vaporize water or other liquidswithin said tube to prevent extinguishing of the pilot flame thereby.The shock chamber is provided for controlling the time rate of change ofpressure of the main gas charge at the burner to prevent blow-out of thepilot flame thereby.

Detailed description FIGURE 1 discloses a warning light structureincluding a fuel tank 11 which in this embodiment is a conventionalliquid propane tank of a Widely available commercial type. The tank 11has a valve 13 mounted on top thereof and communicating therewith forcontrolling the flow of propane gas to a check valve 14. The valve 13allows the tank 11 to be completely manually shut off. The check valve14, which may be of any convenient type, also functions as a safetyvalve and shuts off the gas supply when the rate of flow therethroughexceeds a safe maximum.

The tank 11 supports and has affixed thereto by any convenient means,such as welding, a semicylindrical collar 16 which preferably partiallysurrounds the valve 13. The collar 16 preferably has its open sideclosable by a suitable door 17 which is hingedly attached thereto andwhich, when closed, defines with the collar 16 a cylindrical lowerchamber 18.

A housing 21 includes an essentially circular base plate 22, to theupper face of which is affixed a generally U- shaped hood 23 which hasupstanding end walls, one of which is shown at 26 (FIGURE 3). Thehousing 21 defines therewithin an upper or flame chamber 27. The housing21 is supported by the collar 16 and the base plate 22 covers the upperend of the lower chamber 18. The housing 21 is secured to the collar 16,preferably hingedly, by means not shown, whereby the base plate 22 maybe moved away from the chamber 18 for inspection or the like. Thehousing 21 may include a downwardly slidable inspection cover 28 forallowing examination of the flame chamber 27. The housing 21 may alsoinclude a vent cover 29 to permit the escape of products of combustionfrom the flame chamber 27. Lenses 31 and 32 are fixed by a convenientmeans, such as the screws 33 (FIGURE 3), to the end walls, such as theend wall 26, of the housing 21 for visually indicating the presence of aflame within the flame chamber 27.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the gas-feeding circuit 40 is, generallyspeaking, comprised as follows: the tank 11 feeds, through the on-otfvalve 13 and check valve 14, a series pair of pressure regulators 49 and56 which are of any convenient type capable of delivering gas at areduced, non-fluctuating pressure level. Said regulators are thenconnected through a cracking tube 58 to a branch block 62 which allowsdiverging gas flow into two different paths, hereinafter described, andcontrols the relative flow thereinto by inclusion therein of needlevalves 63 and 64. One branch of the branch block 62 feeds a burner 67 asufficient, and constant, amount of gas to produce a pilot flame. Theother branch feeds a pulsating valve 73 which intermittently turns onand shuts oif the supply of gas therethrough to produce a pulsating gasflow. The pulsating valve 73 connects through a shock chamber 76, dwellvalve 77 and evaporation tube 81 to the other side of the burner 67whereby to supply a pulsating flow of gas for a pulsating main flame.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are more complete representations of the gas-carryingcircuitry of the invention in which the main components are arranged inthe same sequence as in the diagrammatic representation of FIGURE 2. InFIGURES 3 and 4 the check valve 14 connects the valve 13 of the tank 11through suitable fittings 42 and 43, a high pressure hose 44, and afurther fitting 48 to the first gas-pressure regulator 49. Said firstregulator 49 drops the pressure of the gas exiting therefrom to a levelbelow the pressure of the gas in the tank 11 and somewhat above thepressure at which said gas is to be utilized, said output pressure beingvariable over a limited range depending on variations in the tankpressure in accordance with known operation of gas pressure regulators.

The output of the regulator 49 connects through a fitting 51, tube 52and fitting 53 to the second regulator 56 which drops the pressure ofthe gas emerging therefrom to the level required by the succeeding partsof the circuit. Such pressure will be variable only over a very narrowrange despite wide variations in tank pressure in accordance withstandard series gas pressure regulator operation. The output of thesecondary regulator 56 connects through a suitable fitting 57 to theinput end of the cracking tube 58.

The lines A, B, C and D in FIGURE 3 denote the points at which elementsof the gas circuit covered thereby pass through base plate 22. Thus, theplacement of the line D indicates that the regulators 49 and 56, themeans connecting same to the valve 13 on the tank 11, the fitting 57 andthe lower end of the cracking tube 58 are located below the base plate22 and, hence, within the lower chamber 18 (FIGURE 1). The upper part ofthe cracking tube 58, on the other hand, is above the line A and, thus,is located within the flame chamber 27 of the housing 21. The crackingtube 58 preferably enters said flame chamber 27 from the lower chamber18 through a suitable opening in the base plate 22 (not shown).

The output end of the cracking tube 58 connects through a fitting 61 tothe branch block 62 whereby gas is channeled through the valve 64 and aconnecting tube 66 to the burner 67. The tube 66 passes from the branchblock 62 downwardly through the base plate 22 at a point indicated bythe line B in FIGURE 3 so that its output end lies below said base plate22. The input openings of the burner 67 are also located below the baseplate 22 and the output nozzle thereof rises at the line C upwardlythrough said base plate 22 into the flame chamber 27 whereby gasescaping from the nozzle 67 and a flame fed thereby appear in the flamechamber 27.

The gas supply from the cracking tube 58 is also conveyed through thevalve 63 in the branch block 62 and hence through a suitable tube 71 andfitting 72 to the pulsator valve 73 which periodically interrupts theflow of gas therethrough in a manner to provide a pulsating gas supplyat its point of discharge. The pulsating valve 73 may be of anyconvenient type, such as that described in my copending applicationSerial No. 290,384.

The shock chamber 76 fed by the pulsating valve 73 constitutes merely ashort conduit of enlarged diameter and has an internal volume per unitlength greater than that of the line to which it is connected. Thus, arapid change in pressure presented at the input end of said shockchamber 76 appears at the output end thereof as a relatively slowerchange in pressure due to the enlarged volume of said shock chamber andthe finite time required to change the pressure therewithin. A suitablefitting 78 connects the shock chamber 76 to the evaporation tube 81which then passes downwardly through the base plate 22 at point D andthereafter connects to the main flame inlet of the burner 67. Thefitting 78 includes a dwell valve 77 for regulating the flow of gastherethrough.

Operation The tubes 58 and 81 are preferably sufficiently close to theflame of the burner 67 as to be heated thereby but are preferablylocated so as not to shield the lenses 31 and 32 from the flame of saidburner 67.

A flame-shaping device 87, here shown as being of a type similar to thatof my copending application Serial No. 314,393 entitled Flame Shaper andLuminosity Control is contained within the flame chamber 27 and isconnected to the outlet end of the burner 67 by means such as a nut 88.

Although the operation of the device of the invention has been indicatedsomewhat hereinabove, it will be further detailed hereinbelow forpurposes of clear understanding.

Upon opening of the valve 13, gas under pressure flows from the tank 11and through the regulators 49 and 56, respectively, which operate in aconventional manner to assure that the pressure of the gas exitingtherefrom will remain within relatively narrow margins. Thereafter, thegas flows through the cracking tube 58 which, through the valve 64 ofthe block 62, supplies the pilot gas fiow to the burner 67. The pilotflame may now be ignited by any convenient means such as opening thecover 28 and manually igniting the pilot flame. The cracking tube 58,due to its presence in the flame chamber 27 and, more specifically, dueto its proximity to the flame of the burner 67, is heated by the mainflame when same is burning so that the gas flowing therethrough isheated. Sludge or heavy fractions present in the gas which might causethe clogging or malfunction of valves in the succeeding lines arecracked by the heat imposed thereupon in a wellknown manner to becomelighter ends which will not clog succeeding valves. A part of the gas sotreated passes through the valve 64 of the block 62 to continue tosupply the pilot flame, said valve 64 being adjusted to a pilot flame ofthe proper height.

Gas also flows through the valve 63 in the other leg of the branch block62 and enters the pulsator valve 73. The pulsing rate of the pulsatorvalve 73, if same is of the type disclosed in my copending applicationSerial No. 290,384, is determined by the rate of pressure build-up ofgas admitted thereinto and, hence, by the setting of the valves 63. Thepulsator valve 73 feeds its gas output pulses, which have relativelyfast rise and fall times, to the shock chamber 76 which slows down therate of pressure rise and fall sufliciently that the pressurewave-fronts emitted therefrom will not tend to blow out the pilot lightin the burner 67. The gas then flows through the dwell valve 77,adjustment of which controls the amount of time during which thepulsating valve 73 will remain open to discharge its contentssufficiently that its internal pressure will drop and enable it toclose. Hence, the dwell valve 77 controls the period of time duringwhich the main flame of the burn-er 67 will remain on.

The gas then flows into the evaporation tube 81 which is positionedwithin the flame chamber 27 and adjacent the flame from the burner 67whereby the contents thereof are heated sufficiently to vaporize wateror other liquid contaminants which might be contained therein and which,if allowed to enter the burner 67, might drown out the pilot flame. Thegas then enters the burner 67 to be ignited by the pilot flame whereby apulsating main flame is produced.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been disclosedhereinabove for purposes of illustration, modifications or variationsthereof which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fullycontemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gas fueled warning light, the combination comprising:

a source of combustible gas;

pressure regulating means connected to said source;

cracking tube means connected to said regulating means;

gas flow diverging means connected to said cracking tube means andincluding valve means for controllably distributing gas from said valvemeans to two selected points;

burner means connected to one of said points;

pulsating valve means connected to the other of said points foralternately allowing and preventing the flow of gas therethrough;

shock chamber means fed by said pulsating valve means for altering therate of change of pressure of gas supplied thereto by said pulsatingvalve means and dwell valve means connected to said shock chamber meansfor controlling the rate of gas flow therethrough;

evaporation tube means connecting said dwell valve means to-said burner,said cracking tube means and evaporation tube means being located inproximity to said burner;

whereby said burner heats said cracking tube means to render valvefouling components carried by said gas incapable of fouling valves andheats said evaporation tube means for vaporizing liquid therewithin.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein:

said fuel source comprises a container of liquid propane;

and

including a collar fixed to said tank; and

a housing comprising a base plate fixed to a hood member, said housingdefining an enclosed flame chamber, said base plate being mounted uponthe outward end of said collar for defining therewith a lower chamber;

said regulating means, said cracking tube means, said diverging valvemeans, said pulsating valve means, said shock chamber means, said dwellvalve means, said evaporating tube means and said burner means beingfixed to said base plate whereby said fuel tank may be detached from therest of the warning light by disconnection of said regulating meanstherefrom and by disconnection of said base plate from said collar.

3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein said regulator means mountsupon the lower chamber face of said base plate;

said burner mounts on the lower chamber face of said base plate andprojects therethrough for emitting gas into said flame chamber;

wherein said evaporation tube means, said diverging valve means, saidshock chamber means, said dwell valve means and said cracking tube meanslie in said flame chamber.

4. In a gas fueled warning light, the combination com prising:

a tank for holding a combustible gas under pressure;

a housing and a partition in said housing. for defining a combustionchamber above said partition, said combustion chamber having at leastone light emitting lens;

a burner fixed with respect to said partition and extending upwardlytherethrough into said combustion chamber;

a gas-flow divider located in said combustion chamber and valves in saiddivider adjustable to set gas flow therefrom;

means connecting said tank to said divider;

means connecting one branch of said divider to said burner and adaptedto produce a pilot flame at said burner;

means including a pulsating valve disposed in said combustion chamberconnecting the other branch of said divider to said burner forintermittently supplying combustible gas thereto in quantities adaptedto produce a main flame;

whereby a plurality of successively appearing main flames can be ignitedfrom said pilot flame and will transmit intermittent pulses of lightthrough said lens.

5. The device defined in claim 4 including a tube positioned at leastpartially within said combustion chamber and adjacent said burner andconnected in series in the line between said tank and said divider forheating said tube to prevent the contents thereof from fouling saidvalves.

6. The device defined in claim 4 in which said last named means includesan evaporating tube positioned at least in part within said combustionchamber and adjacent said burner and connected in series with saidburner and said pulsating valve.

7. In a gas fueled Warning light, the combination comprising:

a source of combustible gas;

pressure regulating means connected to said source;

gas flow diverging means including valve means for controllablydistributing gas from said valve means to two selected points;

burner means connected to one of said points;

first tube means located adjacent said burner for heating the contentsthereof to prevent fouling of succeeding components, said first tubemeans connecting said regulating means to said diverging means;

pulsating valve means connected to the other of said points foralternately allowing and preventing the flow of gas therethrough;

shock chamber means fed by said pulsating valve means for altering therate of change of pressure of gas supplied thereto by said pulsatingvalve means and dwell valve means connected to said shock chamber meansfor controlling the rate of gas flow therethrough;

second tube means located adjacent said burner for heating the contentsthereof to vaporize liquid impurities therewithin, said second tubemeans connecting said dwell valve means to said burner;

whereby said first tube means tends to maintain said valve means,pulsating valve means and dwell valve in a nonfouled condition and saidsecond tube tends to prevent drowning of said burner.

8. In a warning light, the combination comprising:

a source of combustible gas;

a burner;

a passageway between said source and said burner for supplying a flow ofgas to said burner, two spaced portions of said passageway beingdisposed for heating by said burner;

a pulsating valve in said passageway between said two portions forrendering said flow of gas intermittent; and

a pilot passageway extending between the first-mentioned passageway andsaid burner, said pilot passageway being connected with the firstpassageway at a point between said pulsating valve and the one of saidportions nearest said source for maintaining a constant pilot flame atthe burner.

9. The device defined in claim 8, including an enlarged shock chamberdisposed in said first passageway near said pulsating valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 383,888 6/88Jarboe et al 158-54 644,178 2/00 Kirkpatrick 15 8-54 1,673,834 6/28Lindahl 67-111 2,989,118 6/61 Cleverdon 158-53 3,078,365 2/63 Atkins eta1. 67-111 3,114,251 12/63 Atkins et a1 67-111 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,046,4077/53 France.

EDWARD 1. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

8. IN A WARNING LIGHT; THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A SOURCE OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS; A BURNER; A PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN SAID SOURCE AND SAID BURNER FOR SUPPLYING A FLOW OF GAS TO SAID BURNER, TWO SPACED PORTIONS OF SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING DISPOSED FOR HEATING BY SAID BURNER; A PULSATING VALVE IN SAID PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN SAID TWO PORTIONS FOR RENDERING SAID FLOW OF GAS INTERMITTENT; AND A PILOT PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FIRST-MENTIONED PASSAGEWAY AND SAID BURNER, SAID PILOT PASSAGEWAY BEING CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST PASSAGEWAY AT A POINT BETWEEN SAID PULSATING VALVE AND THE ONE OF SAID PORTIONS NEAREST SAID SOURCE FOR MAINTAINING A CONSTANT PILOT FLAME AT THE BURNER. 